Chief Operating Officer

Eric Kirwan was appointed Chief Operating Officer for the Archdiocese in March 2021.

Prior to taking up this role he was a successful Chief Executive Officer with experience of working in the UK and internationally, including in Scandinavia, Europe and Middle East, Asia and North America.  He has also held the role of Non-Executive Director for an award-winning AI technology company.  

Related to his current position, he is also a Director of The Sower Company, PAS Ltd, the owner of the OPAS Parish Accounting system and The Barberi and Newman Academy Trust.  Immediately prior to joining the Archdiocese he served as Chair of the Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Company in Alcester, Warwickshire.

He is a parishioner and church warden at St Francis Catholic Church in Kenilworth and has been active in the parish community for many years.  Born in Coventry and educated at St Mary’s (now St Mary’s and St Benedict’s) primary and Cardinal Wiseman Secondary schools in the city, he studied Town Planning at Oxford Brooks University.   

Eric is married to Liz, has a daughter Marie and son Rory, is a keen runner and long-suffering supporter of Coventry City.